Artillery Ammunition

DESCRIPTION:

The Army’s artillery ammunition program includes 75 mm (used for ceremonies and simulated firing), 105 mm and 155 mm projectiles and their associated fuses and propelling charges.

Semifixed ammunition for short and intermediate ranges, used in 105 mm Howitzers, is characterized by adjusting the number of multiple propelling charges. Semifixed ammunition for long ranges contains a single bag of propellant optimized for obtaining high velocity, and is not adjustable. The primer is an integral part of the cartridge case, and is located in the base. The 105 mm cartridges are issued in a fused or unfused configuration. Both cartridge configurations are packaged
with propellant.

Separate-loading ammunition, used in 155 mm Howitzers, has separately issued projectiles, fuses, propellant charges and primers. After installing the appropriate fuse on the projectile, the fused projectile is loaded into the cannon along with the appropriate amount of propellant charges and a primer.

The artillery ammunition program includes fuses for cargo-carrying projectiles, such as smoke and illumination, and bursting projectiles, such as high explosives. This program also includes bag propellant for the 105 mm semifixed cartridges and a modular artillery charge system for 155 mm Howitzers.

BENEFIT TO THE WARFIGHTER

The mission of the Field Artillery is to destroy, defeat or disrupt the enemy with integrated fires to enable maneuver commanders to dominate in unified land operations. Cannon-artillery-delivered munitions are a vital component of this mission.